Tag Archives: pilchards

One look at the supermarket shelves reveals the huge growth in alternatives to anything and everything, including milk. The secret is to let your diet lead you to an oasis of calm and health. When you are stressed out chances are your diet takes a plunge for the worse, You may eat the whole shebang, or lose your appetite altogether. No matter how you deal with it, stress affects your body in more ways than one and by eating incorrectly you could be doing yourself harm. Choose wisely what you put in your mouth and you can help your body with the war on stress.

Milk contains the amino acid tryptophan, which is converted into vitamin B3 by the liver. It then helps raise serotonin levels, a neurotransmitter that helps the body regulate appetite, sleep patterns and mood. Because of this ability, tryptophan has been used in the treatment of a variety of conditions, most notably insomnia, depression and anxiety.

Eating smart:

Oat-enriched smoothie

If you simply cannot face a big breakfast, it might be a great idea to bulk up on your smoothie with a handful of oats.

Ingredients:

One serving:

1 banana

1 teaspoon of honey

90 ml full cream milk

125 ml plain yoghurt

½ cup raspberries

1 ½ cup rolled oats

Method:

Add all the ingredients to a blender and process until smooth. Serve immediately.

A common reason for striking cows’ milk and dairy products off the menu is having a low level of the enzyme lactase needed to digest the milk sugar, lactose. Lactose intolerance is quite common affecting at least 33% of people worldwide. Moderating your milk consumption can prove to be beneficial.

Although some experts blame cows’ milk for the increased risk of health problems, others argue that its complex mixture of nutrients has health benefits:

Milk is rich in calcium which is required for strong bones and teeth, and for a healthy functioning heart. A 250 ml glass of 2% low-fat cows’ milk offers 24% of the adult nutrient reference value of calcium (1300 mg a day).

Milk contains good fats too – Milk from grass-fed cows contain “good “unsaturated fats. Replacing the “bad” fats with the “good” fats in a diet will reduce heart-disease risk. Milk also has conjugated linoleic acid, which assists in reducing cholesterol.

Vitamins and minerals – Milk is full of vitamins, minerals and other biologically active health-boosting compounds.

Probiotics – fermented milk products that have live cultures, such as yoghurt, contain probiotics – these are linked to a range of health benefits such as an increased immune function. Try adding low-fat yoghurt to your bowl of muesli in the mornings.

Weight control – Full cream milk passes through the gastric tract slowly, which can help to regulate blood sugar levels and appetite.

Remember that living a beautifully healthy life is what really matters at the end of the day.

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